Blood Red: why Liverpool's Jose Enrique believes there is still a chink of light in his Anfield career

Jose Enrique and Mario Balotelli of Liverpool in action during a training session at Melwood Training Ground on May 14, 2015 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

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Enrique confirmed that he has been “alienated” by Brendan Rodgers and that’s he’s been training away from the first-team squad at Melwood with Mario Balotelli and Fabio Borini.

The trio have all been told that they have no future at Liverpool. Yet Enrique is digging his heels in and is ready to ignore his manager’s advice about moving on.

“I still want to stay and fight as I always have. I will not give up,” he said. “I want to prove that some are wrong.”

Jose Enrique of Liverpool competes with Breel Embolo of FC Basel 1893 during the UEFA Champions League match between FC Basel 1893 and Liverpool FC on October 1, 2014 in Basel, Switzerland. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Enrique has played just 83 minutes of football in 2015 and hasn’t been seen in a Liverpool shirt since he was hauled off at half-time of January’s FA Cup tie with Bolton.

It would be easy to take the moral high ground and accuse him of epitomising everything that’s wrong with modern football. He’s been slammed for lacking ambition and prioritising money over playing time.

Enrique’s obsession with social media certainly makes him an easy target. Where others value their privacy, he provides a running commentary on his busy social life.

Whether it’s smooching with girlfriend Amy Jaine at the finest eateries across the North West, playing with his cats, endorsing a new range of clothes or sunning himself on his 14 summer holidays, pictorial evidence is never far away. In recent years there’s been more chance of spotting him on ‘Wish You Were Here?’ than ‘Match of the Day’.

Contribute on the field and nobody raises an eyebrow, but when you’ve been on the fringes for as long as Enrique has then fans don’t want to see what latest expensive gadget you’ve bought with the bundles of cash you’ve done nothing to earn.

However, much of the vitriol thrown in Enrique’s direction has been harsh, of course there is a financial element to his decision to stick around.

He has 12 months remaining on a contract worth around £60,000 per week. If the 29-year-old went elsewhere he would be lucky to earn half that. Who in their right mind would happily accept that kind of reduction in salary?

Jose Enrique in first-team action for Liverpool against Middlesbrough in September

Rodgers may have written him off but Enrique was right when he spoke about Liverpool only having “one pure left-back” in Alberto Moreno. Joe Gomez did brilliantly there at Stoke but it’s difficult to see an 18-year-old nailing down that spot all season.

With the manager clearly having doubts about Moreno’s defensive capabilities and the Reds fighting on four fronts, Enrique could still be required at some stage. After all Borini was told last summer he wouldn’t play if he stayed and found himself starting in the Bernabeu three months later.

Unlike Borini and Balotelli, Enrique has previously proved that he does have the talent to succeed at Anfield. He was a regular in 2011/12 and 2012/13 – making 78 appearances over two seasons – before a persistent knee injury derailed his career.

For Borini and Balotelli, there is no hope following the arrival of Christian Benteke, Danny Ings and Divock Origi, coupled with the imminent return to fitness of Daniel Sturridge.

But it’s easy to see why Enrique still thinks there is a chink of light.

Liverpool U21 coach Michael Beale

U21s hope Everton derby will kick-start their campaign

Liverpool Under-21s will be hoping that next Wednesday’s mini-derby with Everton at Southport kick-starts their campaign.

Michael Beale’s side lost their opening league game 1-0 to Chelsea at Langtree Park last weekend and then went down 3-0 in a friendly to Denmark U20s in midweek. The young Reds played the final half hour with 10 men in Scandinavia after Alex O’Hanlon was sent off.

Beale said: “It was a difficult night for us and overall the best team won. It was a good experience for the lads and we gave valuable minutes to Jack Dunn, Ryan McLaughlin and Samed Yesil as they get back to full fitness.”

Liverpool's Ryan Kent in action with Everton's Ryan Ledson

A number of under-21 players have already gone out on loan and more are expected to follow in the coming weeks with Jack Dunn and Ryan Kent set to depart on a temporary basis.

Kick-off is 7pm and entry to the Merseyrail Community Stadium costs £5 for adults and £3 for concessions.

David Fairclough celebrates scoring against St Etienne

'Supersub' helps celebrate first FA Cup triumph

Former Liverpool striker David Fairclough will be signing copies of his excellent new autobiography ‘Supersub’ at a night of celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of the club’s first FA Cup triumph later this month.

Fairclough will be at the Sefton Park ‘Connie’ Club on Crawford Avenue on Friday, August 28 from 7.30pm, along with 1965 Kop heroes Ian Callaghan, Chris Lawler, Ian St John and Tommy Lawrence.

It’s a fundraising evening for Guide Dogs for the Blind. Tickets priced £25 are available from Graham Duncan. Call 07801 316561 or email graham@cdp.co.uk

The stage show that tells the remarkable story of Bob Paisley returns to New Brighton Floral Pavilion next week. Callaghan, Jimmy Case, Alan Kennedy, Phil Neal and broadcaster John Keith, the show’s writer, join singer and guitarist Gerry Murphy on stage in Bob ‘Reluctant Genius’ on Friday, August 21.

The show celebrates the 40th anniversary of the 1975/76 season in which Paisley landed his first silverware.